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Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surprised all, Mauricio Pochettino especially, with how he set up his United side against Tottenham on Sunday - and the formation could hint at a possible new role for Jesse Lingard.

Instead of lining up his side like he has in his four previous Premier League victories - with Marcus Rashford spearheading the attack, Paul Pogba in an advanced midfield position and Anthony Martial and Lingard deployed out on the flanks - the Norwegian changed up his tactics and caught Pochettino flat footed.

He moved Lingard inside to play at the tip of a midfield diamond and split the strike force of Martial and Rashford so they could expose Spurs' vulnerability in the channels. It worked a treat.

Lingard was brought into a deeper, central role as Solskjaer's plan was designed to use Lingard's high energy to pressure an immobile and fatigued Tottenham midfield of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko and capitalise on any mistakes they made.

Eventually it was right-back Kieran Trippier who made the mistake. His sloppy pass was intercepted by Lingard and immediately the trap was sprung.

Lingard gave the ball to Pogba who curled a beautiful pass - a pass he had been looking to make all game, per Solskjaer's instructions - into the path of Rashford.

The 21-year old drove at Spurs in the right channel and arrowed a shot past a sprawling Hugo Lloris and into the far corner.

It would be the goal that would claim the three points for the Reds and prove that Solskjaer has more about him than just making players happy again, he also has some serious tactical clout.

The most interesting aspect of Solskjaer's new system was the use of Lingard in the deeper position and how it could lead to a new role for the England international in the United side.

Roberto Firmino leaves the field with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick (Image: Getty Images)

Although Lingard was positioned in the central attacking role, his primary role was not to attack. Instead he was to press the midfield so Spurs did not have time on the ball and to drag Tottenham's defenders out of position in order to create space for the marauding Martial and Rashford.

It's role that's similar to the one in which Brazilian attacker Roberto Firmino plays for Liverpool, to great success.

It's a selfless role which requires high levels of stamina and concentration and for a player to hand over the lime light to the other attackers, while they exploit the space and opportunities the player creates.

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It's unknown if Solskjaer will opt for the system again, perhaps it was just a one off specifically for Tottenham but Lingard displayed that he has all the qualities to fill the role in the victory at Wembley.

While he may never score reach the goal tally of Liverpool's number nine, he could still become United's Firmino.